Refractory curtain



Feb. 12, 1952 File-d Sept. 2, 1947 H. HosBElN REFRACTORY CURTAIN 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 12, 1952 L, H, HosBElN 2,585,552 REFRAcToRY CUBTAIN Filed Sept. 2, 1947 I5 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 @f/Pg@ Patented Feb. l2, 1952 REFRACTORY CURTAIN Louis H. Hosbein, Glencoe, Ill., assignor to M. H. Detrick Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1947, Serial No. 771,670

Claims.

My invention relates to refractory walls, and more particularly to a refractory curtain structure. l

In various types of furnaces and similar devices it is frequently desirable to divide the chamber into a plurality of sections or compartments and to do this by means of a refractory wall that extends downwardly from a roof or top Wall of the furnace or similar heating chamber, and which does not extend to the bottom of said furnace or similar chamber. Such walls, whether for baffling or other purposes, may be referred to generally as curtains or curtain walls.

In providing such a refractory curtain it has been necessary to provide metallic means in the curtain-like wall for supporting the refractory members of said wall. Said metallic members have in the past extended downwardly into the curtain wall a considerable distance, which has made it necessary to make the wall more bulky than would otherwise be necessary, to use high grade metal that would withstand the heat that would develop Within the wall, or to provide cooling means for the metallic members that are located in the hot zone in which the curtain wall is located.

It is the principal purpose of my invention to provide a refractory curtain that is so constructed and arranged that there is no metallic structure within the same within the zone in which a high heat will exist, this being accomplished by suspending all the refractory members from the upper end portion of the wall and to provide the metallic anchoring means only at said upper end portion of the wall.

More specifically my invention comprises a supporting frame, metallic hanger members mounted on said frame and a plurality of rows of refractory members suspended one below the other from said frame by means of said hanger members, said rows being vertically adjacent each other and the refractory members of each row being suspended from the refractory members of the next higher row.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated the refractory members have a web portion and top and bottom lateral enlargements and are slidably engaged with each other in such a manner that each of the refractory members of a lower row is suspended from a pair of refractory members of the next adjacent upper row, the members in the adjoining rows being staggered relative to each other.

Other objects and advantages of my invention (ci. zas-46) will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as i defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a furnace in which my improved refractory curtain is installed.

10 Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the supporting frame in vertical section and a portion of a refractory wall in end elevation,

ll on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my improved refractory curtain.

Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, partly broken away.v

I0 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hanger for suspending the refractory units of the wall from a frame member, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the refractory members of which the wall is composed.

Referring in detail to the drawings my im proved refractory curtain is shown as being located in a furnace chamber II), which is provided with a forward wall II and a rear wall I2, the furnace structure embodying a framework that has a horizontally extending frame member I3, which is shown as being an I-beam that is mounted on suitable supports, such as the frame members I4, mounted on columns-9, and side walls I5. The forward wall II may be constructed in any desired manner and an opening I6 into the furnace chamber closed by means of any suitable closure I1 may be provided. The particular furnace structure is shown only by way of example and the details of construction thereof are of no importance to this invention. My invention can be applied to any furnace or heating chamber structure that requires a separating wall that has a passage underneath the same and which is utilized in a furnace structure that has some sort of a framework embodying a transverse beam member, such as the I- beam I 3, from lwhich the depending dividing wall or curtain may be hung.

The I-beam or other structural member I 3 ls located above the top wall I8 of the furnace chamber and on said I-beam are mounted suitable hangers. one of which is shown more in detail in Fig. 6 and is indicated generally by the nu- 65 meral I9. -Said hanger has a pair of hook-like portions and 2I which engage over the bottom flanges 22 of the I-beam I3. Said hanger members are, preferably, providedy with a stepped formation providing the shoulders 23 and 24 to aid in the assembly of the hanger members with the I-beam, this being accomplished by flrst engaging the ledge 24 over the flange 22 and then engaging the hook formation 20 over the other side of said flange 22, after which the hanger member is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, with the ledge 23 and the hook portion 20 in engagement with the opposite sides of the flange 22. The hanger member I9 also has a pair of longitudinally extending side flanges 25 at the lower end thereof. Said flanges 25 are utilized for suspending the refractory members from the hanger members and thus from the I-beam I3.

The refractory members that constitute the curtain indicated generally by the numeral 26 in Fig. l, which divides the furnace chamber i0 into a space 21 on one side of said wall and a space 28 on the other side thereof with a passage 29 below the same, are all duplicates and one of the refractory members 30 is shown in Fig. 7. Said refractory member is of a similar cross Section to that of an'I-beam, having a central vertical web portion 3| that is rather thick, and heads 32 and 33, which are duplicates and provide the laterally extending flanges 34, 35, 36 and 31, said flanges defining channels 38 between the same on opposite sides of the refractory block 30. Said refractory member or block is thus relatively long and narrow with flat top and bottom faces 39 and 40 and with channels between upper and lower lateral flanges running lengthwise of said block on opposite sides thereof. Said flanges have inclined wall portions 4I, 42, 43 and 44 on the sides thereof opposite the fiat faces 39 and 40, respectively.

While one flat face of the block is referred to as the top and the other the bottom thereof in the above description of the individual block or refractory member, the same are reversible end for end and top for bottom so that either flat face 39 or 40 thereof can be upwardly. However, in order to clearly understand the mounting 0f the refractory members on the hangers and on each other, the surfaces of the refractory members that are upwardly in the wall as shown in the drawings will be referred to as the upper portions thereof and those that are lowermost as the lower portions thereof. Referring now to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the flanges 25 of the hanger members each have mounted thereon a flange 34 or 35 of a refractory member 30 and that the flanges 25 of one hanger will have a flange or lateral projection of one refractory member 30 and a flange 34 of the next refractory member 30 engaged therewith. Thus each refractory member is supported by a pair of hangers and each hanger has a pair of refractory members suspended therefrom.

The hangers i9, as will be obvious from Fig. :5, extend from one end of the wall to the other end thereof on the I-beam I3 in spaced relation. Thus all of the top row of refractory members forming the curtain are suspended from the hangers I9, the refractory members of said top row being indicated by the numeral 30 in the drawings. The laterally extending projections or flanges 36 and 31 of the members 30 are shown as being at their lower ends and the refractory members of the next lower row below the row 3G are indicated by the numeral 30'. The members 30 are duplicates of the members 30 and have the flanges or projections 35 thereof engaged over the projections 36 of the refractory members 30, and the projections 34 thereof engage over the projections 31 of the members 30. It will be noted that the members 30' are staggered or offset relative to the members 30 S0 that the refractory members 30' are mounted between two members 30 and each of the members 30' is suspended from two adjacent members 30. The members 30' are the same in all respects as the members 30, and it will be obvious that with the members 30 in position the members 30' can be slid into position with the head portions 32 thereof between the lateral projections 36 and 31 of two adjacent members 30 and that any one of the members 30 or 30 can be removed and another one slid in place without the remaining members 30 or 3U' being dislodged, this greatly facilitating repair work in the wall.

The next lower row of refractory members 30" are in vertical alignment with the members 30 and are engaged with the members 30 in a similar manner to that in which the members 30 are engaged with the members 30. In a similar manner all of the remainder of the wall is suspended from the hanger members I9 down to the bottom edge 45 thereof, the refractory members of each row being thus suspended by the refractory members of the next row above the same, and thus all suspended from the hanger members I9 and from the beam I3. Also the entire wall that lies inside the furnace chamber is made up entirely of refractory members, having no metal whatsoever therein, as all of the metal members are above the top wall I8 of the furnace chamber. It will be noted that there are spaces 46 between the bottom faces 40 of a refractory member and the top faces 39 of the refractory member that is vertically aligned therewith in the second row below the same to provide for expansion vertically of said wall. The inclined faces 4I and 42 of the flanges 34 and 35 are in face to face engagement with the inclined faces 44 and 43 of the flanges or projections 31 and 36, respectively, of the refractory members that suspend the respective refractory members or the next lower row. The height of the web portions 3| is twice the thickness of the flanges, plus clearance. The refractory members are symmetrical about both center lines of each of the faces thereof.

The space above the hanger members 30 may be provided with refractory members 41 and 48, which are much shorter than the members 30 and lie forwardly of the beam I3. These do not, however, form a part of the actual curtain structure, but only an upward extension thereof to close the space above the upper end of the curtain and in front of the I-beam I3. The end members of the wall 26 may be anchored in the side walls I5, as will be obvious from Figs. 4 and 5, and the channels that exist in the refractory members within the outline of said side wall I5 may be filled with refractory cement, indicated by the numeral 49.

What I claim is:

l. In a furnace structure, a refractory top wall, a suspended vertically extending refractory wall of much greater length and height than thickness, having the major portion -thereof extending downwardly below the under face of said top wall, the portion of said vertical wall lying below the bottom of said top wall consisting entirely of refractory members, the refractory members of each course of said portion being suspended from the next higher course thereof.

2. In a furnace structure, a refractory top wall, a suspended vertically extending refractory wall of much greater length and height than thickness, having the major portion thereof extending downwardly 'below the under face of said top wall, the major portion of said vertical wall lying below the bottom of said top wall and having a vertical face thereof exposed to heat, the portion of said vertical wall lying below the bottom of said top wall consisting entirely of refractory members, the refractory members of each course of said portion being suspended from the next higher course thereof.

3. -In a furnace structure, a refractory top wall, a suspended vertically extending refractory wall of much greater length and height than thickness, having the major portion thereof extending downwardly below the under face of said top wall, said vertically extending wall being made up entirely of refractory members from above the bottom face of said top wall to the bottom end thereof and comprising a plurality of horizontal rows of refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said bottom face of said top wall, the refractory members of each horizontal row being suspended from the refractory members of the next higher horizontal row.

4. In a furnace structure, a refractory top wall, a metallic supporting frame, metal hanger members suspended from said frame and a vertically extending refractory wall of much greater length and height than thickness, having the major portion thereof extending downwardly below the under face of said top wall and depending from said hanger members, said vertically extending wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members suspended from said hanger members and a multiplicity of rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form vertically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said wall, each of said refractory members being independently l slidable into and out of position transversely of said wall.

5. In a furnace structure, a refractory top wall, a suspended vertically extending refractory wall extending downwardly below the bottom face of said top wall, the portion of said vertical wall lying below the bottom face of said top wall consisting entirely of refractory members, extending transversely of said vertical wall each of the suspended refractory members of said vertical wall being independently slidable into and out of position in said wall transversely thereof without disturbing the other members of said vertical wall.

6. In a furnace structure, a horizontal frame member and a vertically extending refractory wall having much greater length and height than thickness suspended from said frame member, said refractory wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members suspended from said frame member and a multiplicity of horizontal rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form vertically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said wall, each of said refractory members being independently slidable into and out of position transversely of said wall.

'7. In a furnace structure, a horizontal frame member and a vertically extending refractory wall having much greater length and height than thickness suspended from said frame member, said refractory wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members suspended from said frame member and a multiplicity of horizontal rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form vertically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said Wall, said refractory members each having a web portion and top and bottom lateral enlargements extending longitudinally thereof, the top enlargements of the members of each of said multiplicity of rows slidably engaging the bottom enlargements of members of the next higher row to interlock the members of each row with the members of the next higher and next lower rows, each of said refractory members being independently slidable into and out of position transversely of said wall.

8..In a furnace structure, a vertically extending refractory wall having much greater length and height than thickness, said refractory wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members, metallic means suspending said row of refractory members and a multiplicity of horizontal rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form vertically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said wall, each of said refractory members being independently slidable into and out of position transversely of said wall.

9. In a furnace structure, a horizontal frame member and a vertically extending refractory wall having much greater length and height than thickness suspended from said frame member, said refractory wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members suspended from said frame member and a multiplicity of horizontal rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form ver` tically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said wall, all the refractory members of said multiplicity of rows being accessible from a face of said wall and each thereof being independently movable into and out of position in said wall.

l0. In a furnace structure, a horizontal frame member and a vertically extending refractory wall having much greater length and height than thickness suspended from said frame member, said refractory wall comprising a top horizontal row of refractory members suspended from said frame member and a multiplicity of horizontal rows of duplicate refractory members arranged in descending tiers below said top horizontal row, the members of each of said multiplicity of rows extending transversely of said wall and each of said rows. extending longitudinally of said wall, each of said multiplicity of rows vertically overlapping and being suspended from a next higher row and vertically overlapping and suspending a next lower row of said duplicate members, the members of each row being spaced apart and staggered relative to the members of the rows suspending and suspended by the same, and the members of alternating ones of said multiplicity of rows being in vertical alignment to form vertically extending columns of said duplicate refractory members in said Wall, said refractory members each having a web portion and top and bottom lateral enlargements extending longitudinally thereof, the top enlargements of the members of each of said multiplicity of rows slidably engaging the bottom enlargements of members of the next higher row to interlock the members of each row with the members of the next higher and next lower rows, said enlargements having centering means for said members comprising oppositely inclined shoulders on the sides thereof facing each other, each of said refractory members being independently slidable into and out of position transversely of said wall.

- LOUIS H. HOSBEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesv are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 991,896 Sajo May 9, 1911 992,994 Smith May 23, 1911 1,367,497 Pace Feb. 1, 1921 1,457,443 Liptak June 5, 1923 1,569,923 Gudmundsen et al. Jan. 19, 1926 1,585,003 Wilson et al May 18, 1926 1,677,002 Olson et al July 10, 1928 1,738,580 Hemmelright Dec. 10, 1929 2,295,352 MacDonald Sept. 8, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Pages 278 and 279 of Trinks Industrial Furnace, vol. 1, third edition. Copyright 1934. Published by John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York. 

